oh that's right... do you even know how SXSW submissions even get made? lolol. wow. So, SXSW submissions are made through sonicbids, an organization that has already gotten a lot of flack for essentially being a pay to play site - even worse - taking money from people who enter submissions that never even get heard. They support sonicbids by making them their sole submission format, even when they know that sonicbids rips people off. Even here, most of the selection is done through looking at the band's draw - because they run it as a business. They'd pick Brittany Spears if she entered b/c she'd bring in the numbers. you think they actually care what the band sounds like?

... and you're complaining about the ethics of a situation where everyone seems to be consenting to whats going on, instead of the above. btw, what kind of qualifications do you have that give you the ability to make judgments about how bad these bands are? or are you just another guy with an opinion.

btw, you know who likes to feign moral outrage in the guise of actually more obnoxious motives? This guy:

so... tell me what are the ethical implications here? i'm glad you're so interested in the ethics of this.

Bo Davis wrote:

I think it's perfectly fine for people to question the ethics of a "Pay to Play" organization.

If your music is any good, you shouldn't have to pay to play. Asking bands to pay a fee to be a part of what is already a sham -- and then continuing to ask for more money from the public is even more of a sham. To top it off, all funds raised at the "benefit" show in Columbus will go to WE AREX Columbus -- or whatever it's called -- to fund a shitty band's week of drinking and free music in Austin. And what do you get in return? A shitty "digital" compilation of music, a poorly designed poster, and free admission to Kobo. But then again, the bands are already in the hole, paying to play the faux-showcase, and who knows if they'll get their deposit back? Or a bed at the Inn, or a chance to meet the girl from Phantods. It's called being in a band, and scraping together money to tour, and finding shows along the road down to Texas to make money for gas and lodging -- If your music is any good, you shouldn't have to pay to play. Especially in Austin, especially during SXSW.

oh that's right... do you even know how SXSW submissions even get made? lolol. wow. So, SXSW submissions are made through sonicbids, an organization that has already gotten a lot of flack for essentially being a pay to play site - even worse - taking money from people who enter submissions that never even get heard. They support sonicbids by making them their sole submission format, even when they know that sonicbids rips people off. Even here, most of the selection is done through looking at the band's draw - because they run it as a business. They'd pick Brittany Spears if she entered b/c she'd bring in the numbers. you think they actually care what the band sounds like?

... and you're complaining about the ethics of a situation where everyone seems to be consenting to whats going on, instead of the above. btw, what kind of qualifications do you have that give you the ability to make judgments about how bad these bands are? or are you just another guy with an opinion.

btw, you know who likes to feign moral outrage in the guise of actually more obnoxious motives? This guy:

The dudes that put together the showcase usually take care of the fees (or find ways around them). The idea is that more people find out about the organization that put on the showcase by having bands that fit their aesthetic bring in the people that the organization is gunning for. I'm sure there is a more eloquent way to put that last sentence but I don't give a shit.

i'm not sure that this has been brought up; i haven't read this thread th whole way thru. but if it has, it could do to be mentioned again, and if it hasn't, no problem.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS NOT PUT THE WORD COLUMBUS IN ANYTHING.

that's all. nothing represents columbus. any wise person outside col's will know this; any straight-thinking person here will as well. but making that mistake will still get you bad vibes on th internets.

Wumme Wenders wrote:

No Doubt.

_________________I'm not saying "faggy" because I﻿ don't like homosexuals, I happen to be a huge fan of Rob Halford, Ian Mckellen, and I'm pretty sure Kurt Cobain even said that he might be bisexual, hell I have a bisexual friend. I'm saying "faggy" to describe this guys voice.

Could someone who's been to sxsw and knows how this all works please clarify? My impression is that an official sxsw showcase is sponsored by somebody...like a record label or a radio station or something. And I'd assume that the bands are asked to play, don't have to pay to play, but do have to get down there under their own power.

I'll just repeat what a lot of other folks on this thread have already said. To call yourself "We Are Columbus" is presumptuous at best. To expect other people to pay your way to a gig is ridiculous, but I guess 77 people disagree with me on that point. It's got nothing to do with hating or not hating bands.

the idea that if you're good enough then you shouldn't have to "pay to play" is moot.

but the idea that you would go to some other city that has a huge conference and play an unsanctioned loser showcase under a big col's banner is not gonna make a lot of col's people joyful.

_________________I'm not saying "faggy" because I﻿ don't like homosexuals, I happen to be a huge fan of Rob Halford, Ian Mckellen, and I'm pretty sure Kurt Cobain even said that he might be bisexual, hell I have a bisexual friend. I'm saying "faggy" to describe this guys voice.

I'll just repeat what a lot of other folks on this thread have already said. To call yourself "We Are Columbus" is presumptuous at best. To expect other people to pay your way to a gig is ridiculous, but I guess 77 people disagree with me on that point. It's got nothing to do with hating or not hating bands.

_________________I'm not saying "faggy" because I﻿ don't like homosexuals, I happen to be a huge fan of Rob Halford, Ian Mckellen, and I'm pretty sure Kurt Cobain even said that he might be bisexual, hell I have a bisexual friend. I'm saying "faggy" to describe this guys voice.

Could someone who's been to sxsw and knows how this all works please clarify? My impression is that an official sxsw showcase is sponsored by somebody...like a record label or a radio station or something. And I'd assume that the bands are asked to play, don't have to pay to play, but do have to get down there under their own power.

Could someone who's been to sxsw and knows how this all works please clarify? My impression is that an official sxsw showcase is sponsored by somebody...like a record label or a radio station or something. And I'd assume that the bands are asked to play, don't have to pay to play, but do have to get down there under their own power.

This is correct.

Yes. Also a band can have no affiliation, pay the application fee (which I think isnt much), and still get selected.... Being on a label or buddies with a radio station is a nice boost to getting in but isn't mandatory.

And if a band is selected for official SXSW, they either get paid or are offered badges/wristbands to get into the entire festival, it's their choice.

they also expect the public to fund their vacation time, and have self labeled themselves as the banner holders for our town.

Patradio wrote:

To call yourself "We Are Columbus" is presumptuous at best. To expect other people to pay your way to a gig is ridiculous, but I guess 77 people disagree with me on that point. It's got nothing to do with hating or not hating bands.

Cruise_Elroy wrote:

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS NOT PUT THE WORD COLUMBUS IN ANYTHING.

yesyesyes

_________________This place is like the fair, only it cost a dollar to get in and the rides are junked cars.

they also expect the public to fund their vacation time, and have self labeled themselves as the banner holders for our town.

Patradio wrote:

To call yourself "We Are Columbus" is presumptuous at best. To expect other people to pay your way to a gig is ridiculous, but I guess 77 people disagree with me on that point. It's got nothing to do with hating or not hating bands.

There are evidently 13 bands playing together.At an average of 4 per band that would be 52 people.They asked for $5 grand already.$5 grand between 52 people is $96 each.We are Columbus.We can't save/earn $100 over the course of a year on our own.Now give us money.

There are evidently 13 bands playing together.At an average of 4 per band that would be 52 people.They asked for $5 grand already.$5 grand between 52 people is $96 each.We are Columbus.We can't save/earn $100 over the course of a year on our own.Now give us money.

You're forgetting about the $250 each band had to pay to get a slot during this "showcase." So that's about $8000 the organizers have in hand -- renting the bar is at least 10 grand. I'm sure there's a itemized list of other expenses the organizers are using this money to fund -- making those awesome posters, calling those "representatives" to convince them this is better than going to a "real" showcase to see some "good" bands, putting on the "benefit" show at Ace of Cups, transportation, keeping all of that Jeni's Ice Cream from melting on the way down. I think the big winner on this night will be Queen City Cayenne.

Smells like Wonderland to me. Where's the transparency? I have a feeling the Other Other Paper is looking into this.